(Reuters) – As solar panel prices continue to march lower, Chinese solar companies are struggling with heavy debt loads, triggering expectations many will be forced to seek a new infusion of funds through takeovers or mergers.

(Reuters) – China’s Suntech Power Holdings (STP.N: Quote, Profile, Research), the world’s biggest solar panel maker but facing an acute financing shortfall, saw its funding prospects darken further after it disclosed this week it had probably been defrauded.

The company was already struggling with fast-dropping solar panel prices, new U.S. import duties and the threat of trade barriers in Europe. It needs to raise over half a billion dollars by next March to refinance maturing debt, but after discovering that bonds used as collateral for new solar projects were apparently fake, that task has become much harder.

(Reuters) – Refining company Valero Corp (VLO.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on Tuesday posted a higher quarterly profit that topped expectations and said it would split off its retail business, lifting its shares 6 percent.

The company, which owns retail stations in the United States and Canada, said it is considering different methods for the split, including a spin-off that would give its shareholders ownership in the retail business.

July 27 (Reuters) – The glut of shale gas in the United
States has been a double-edged sword for earnings this week,
cutting into profit for producers such as Exxon Mobil and
Chevron, but benefiting chemicals makers and power producers.

U.S. natural gas prices tumbled to their lowest in a decade
during the second quarter as output from vast new shale rock
fields overwhelmed demand.

(Reuters) – Chevron Corp (CVX.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) profit fell 7 percent in the second quarter as oil prices weakened, the No. 2 U.S. oil company said on Friday, and oil and gas output will fall short this year, but margins are strong for the smaller refining business.

Like larger rival Exxon Mobil (XOM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz), Chevron did face weak prices for U.S. natural gas prices. But Chevron is far less reliant on it, with just 5 percent of its reserves in North American gas, compared with 18 percent for Exxon.

Weaker global oil prices have weighed on earnings across the sector and Exxon also felt the sting of decade-low U.S. natural gas prices, especially in the United States where it is the largest producer of the fuel.

Conoco, reporting earnings for the first time since shedding
its refining and chemicals businesses, saw its oil and gas
output slip below its full-year production goal as asset sales,
maintenance and curtailed gas production weighed. But the
company said its new projects were coming on line as planned.

July 23 (Reuters) – Halliburton Co posted a
quarterly profit on Monday that topped Wall Street forecasts,
helped by increased activity outside North America, where it
expected margins would start recovering by early next year.